Well, my love/hate relationship with the MPS postal service continues.
I check my mail every day, sometimes twice a day in the days leading to Christmas.
Yesterday, I FINALLY had 4 boxes to pick up, but I had 6 slips (2 were duplicates).
This is why I find it frustrating....
I checked my mail on 12/31 because I was hoping to receive my Christmas cards that shipped on 12/15.
NOTHING in my box.
Yesterday, 6 slips, all put in on the 31st, I guess after I checked the mail.
Well, 2 of the slips were "Final Notices" which means the next step is they return your package to sender.
The post office was closed on the 1st and 2nd, open 1/2 day on the 3rd (Sat) and closed on the 4th (Sun)
So, they basically gave me 1/2 a day to pick up 2 of my packages... I just find it very frustrating.
Also, 2 of them were clearly here prior to Christmas but I'm just receiving them now.
So, last night Sarah slept in her Christmas nightgown and today, January 6, I'll be addressing Christmas cards.

I'm finally feeling a little better. My sinuses have been wreaking havoc on my body but I think I finally have them under control. Today is Sarah's 7th birthday. We had a little party for her on Friday at the Arts & Crafts center. 13 kids painting pottery. It was relatively calm and enjoyable. Today, on her "real" birthday we are having the Sukeniks over for dinner a a little birthday song. Brenda is all about birthdays and wanted to be included in the celebration. I'm glad I'm finally feeling better and up to having folks over.
As for now, I'm taking down the Christmas decorations. As I do, I wonder, "Is it normal to pack up the Christmas decorations each year like you might move before the next Christmas?" I guess it's normal if you are in in the military. I'm also realizing that, in 1st grade Sarah did not bring home any handmade Christmas decorations. When you are inundated with them in the preschool years I guess you don't ever think that one day that will stop. William is still making them and, no matter how "original" they are, we will add them to our collection.

As you can tell, I've been a bad blogger.
There are several reasons... I baked a lot over the holidays, I'm addicted to Facebook and there has been a lot going on, which means, not a lot of time to sit down and actually accomplish anything on the computer. Notice I didn't say "no computer time". Anyway... moving on....
We had a great Christmas. The kids are really enjoying the Wii and all their gifts, which makes me happy. They are very thankful children and, for the most part, pretty appreciative. This is something we have been trying to instill in them - appreciation. We're trying to do better but it's hard. I think they are thankful though. They will be doing something, like playing with something new or wearing new clothes and, out of the blue say, "Mommy (or Daddy) thank you for getting me my new (fill in the blank)."
I'm sick again with the Okinawa funk. Sore throat and congestion.
I got a Rod Stewart CD in my stocking so, on a whim, I checked his tour schedule and.... he'll be in Tokyo in March so now my new project is to plan our trip to Tokyo/Kyoto around the concert. I'm very excited, as it will give me something to look forward to!
Today it's laundry, errands and this week I'm "moving into" my new calendar.
I can't believe it's almost 2009!

Today I hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange at my house. I had a really great time! About 13 ladies came and 11 brought cookies. I really enjoy entertaining, especially during the holidays but here, it kind of stress me out - having so many people in my house with all the kids, etc because it's so small. Today was really enjoyable for me so if anyone who came is reading this - thank you very much!
Sarah is going to the school store after school and William is taking a nap. Tonight we are going to have jiffy pop and watch Christmas movies. A lazy Friday night at home... nice!

We had a fun weekend of Christmas parties.
The adult party on Friday night and the kids party on Saturday.
I'll post some pictures later...
It's monday over here (already) so, after I get the kids off to school I'll be folding laundry and wrapping presents to get them in the mail this week. I still need to finalize my Christmas card order on-line... and do some on-line shopping.
Just like that, the weather got cold and Sarah has no warm clothes!

So, here's a picture I snapped at ETWS.
That is a store that has a section kind of like Spencers.
I thought it was a Christmas display, but I'm not really sure.
I think it's totally CREEPY. The head in the reindeer ski mask freaks me out!
Comments?

We had a great Thanksgiving and day after.
The only thing that would have made it better, besides being with family, would have been for an Aggie miracle. It just wasn't meant to be this year! We spent Turkey day at the Antedomenico's with them, the Sukenik's, the Robert's and the Cook's. The next day, we went to the Sukenik's at 9:45 to watch the Aggie game and meet up with the Bats and the Cocks for the Turkey trot and the Annual Turkey bowl game. This year, the Fighting Cocks one so that was nice. There was a "victory party" at the Sukenik's afterwards and some of the guys played poker.
We slept in today (Saturday) and then, after we woke up and had crepe's for breakfast/brunch (Joey's new favorite), we realized we had to go get our tree from the BX. We got there around 2 and there were about 50 left. I don't usually get my tree this early but we don't have a choice so, tonight we're going to put it up and have hot chocolate and jiffy pop popcorn. Sarah and William are very excited.

Busy day....
For dinner tonight I'm making
Carmelized Pecans to go on top of the salad
Garlic Roast
Mashed potatoes
Green Beans
Bread (just heating it up)
If I have time, cranberry spread for crackers for an appetizer.
If not, I'm pulling the cheese log out of the fridge.

Today, I'm making - for tomorrow
Rosana's famous Stuffing
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie
TOM Turkey Cupcakes for the kiddos

Oh - and I'm running a vacuum around my house!
Gotta go....

Today I took a pecan pie and a corn casserole to Joey's office lunch.
Both were a hit. Tomorrow we're having the Bibeaux's over for dinner and I'm going to try to make this cheesecake for dessert. I figure, we'll get our fill of pies on Thanksgiving and, something that is as fattening as a cheesecake is probably hard to mess up, taste-wise anyway.Apparently making a cheesecake "look pretty" is the hard part, not baking it but, since I've never done it, I'm not sure. I'll let you know.
Any pointers would be appreciated.

We're having Thanksgiving at Marcy & Lucky's. It supposed to rain, which is not good since there will be 10 adults and 10 kids. We're hoping to utilize outdoor space. Keep your fingers crossed!

Today we went to S's 1st grade Thanksgiving program. It was very cute.
One of the curses of being tall is always being in the back row.
It never fails, we can never see her cute little face. We got a couple glimpses but not a good picture.
Hubby pointed out that she's the kid who watches the teacher's every move and always has to see the "director" so she can see the hand signals and do what is expected of her at the appropriate time.
1st born.
After the Thanksgiving Feast, I ran some errands and was pleasantly surprised when my Nordstrom's package arrived at the post office. I ordered a pair of shoes and 2 dresses (1 for the Christmas Party and 1 for the New Year's Party)
They both fit (which is rare) and I think I'm keeping them. Marcy and Brenda both approve.
Jamie M's water broke this morning so she's in labor... how exciting!
I hope she has a girl